Metallic Mining Ban in Areni Community

The process of direct democracy continues to gain momentum in Armenia. On May 6, 2019, the Grand Council of the consolidated community of Areni adopted a decision to recognize the "Areni Community as an eco-economic area and to prohibit metallic mining in the community." The decision was passed unanimously, with 9 votes in favor and none against or abstaining.

The resolution states the following:

“Guided by the requirements of paragraph 42 of part 1 of Article 18 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Local Self-Government and taking into account the petition organized by the residents of the Areni community, which gathered 2868 signatures, the Grand Council of the Areni community decides:

“To recognize the Areni community as an eco-economic area, and henceforth to prohibit any exploration or exploitation related to metallic mining within the administrative territory of the Areni community.”

The consolidated Areni community includes the villages of Areni, Agarakadzor, Aghavnadzor, Arpi, Gnikhishik, Yelpin, Khachik, Chiva, and Rind, whose residents submitted a collective letter to the community leader and council on May 3. This letter was supported by around 2900 citizens' signatures, in which they requested and demanded the following:

1. To adopt a decision that prohibits and excludes the conduct of exploration and, especially, the exploitation of mining in the administrative area of the Areni community in the future.
2. To develop a comprehensive program for the ecological sustainability and green economic development of the Areni community and Vayots Dzor region, involving community members, for which we are ready to support the state and local self-government bodies of the Republic of Armenia.

It should be noted that prior to this, three other communities in Armenia had initiated similar bans on metallic mining in their natural environments: Noyemberyan in spring 2018, Jermuk in fall 2018, and Gladzor in April 2019. The councils of those communities also confirmed the expression of will of their elected residents with relevant decisions.